Portable coin operated bank

ABSTRACT

A portable coin operated bank has the shape of an animal with a head having an open mouth through which coins are inserted. The bank contains a tongue pivotally disposed in the mouth, a chute below the tongue and connected to a lower coin collection chamber and means actuated when the tongue is pivoted downward to raise the tongue. A coin placed on the tongue will slide by gravity along tongue and chute into the chamber when the tongue is raised.

United States Patent Heble Oct. 15, 1974 PORTABLE COIN OPERATED BANK 3243914 4/1966 Poyntcr 46/4 5} Inventor: S e J b cookq ebr 3,475,848 ll/l969 Grubcr v. 46/5 [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Primary Eraminer-Antonio F. Guida Inc., New York, NY. Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting 22 Pl d: M 29, 1973 1 ay 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 364966 A portable coin operated bank has the shape of an an imal with a head having an open mouth through which [52] US. Cl. 46/4, 46/243 M, 46/141 coins are inserted. The bank contains a tongue pivot- [51] int. CL... A63h 33/20 ally disposed in the mouth, a chute below the tongue [58] Field of Search 46/2-5, 141, and connected to a lower coin collection chamber and 46/243 M means actuated when the tongue is pivoted downward to raise the tongue. A coin placed on the tongue will [56] References Cited slide by gravity along tongue and chute into the cham- UNITED STATES PATENTS ber when the tongue is raised.

2,606,394 8/1952 Janiak 46/4 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PORTABLE COIN OPERATED BANK SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed toward a coin operated portable bank particularly adapted for use by children and providing an entertaining coin depositing action which will encourage children to deposit money and thus encourage development of habits of thrift.

The bank takes the shape of an animal head with an open mouth. A tongue is pivotally disposed in the mouth whereby the front end or tip can be raised or lowered. The tip is normally in raised position.

A chute disposed in the mouth below the rear of the tongue inclines downward to a coin collection chamher.

When the tip of the tongue is depressed as for example when placing a coin thereon, means, which can include a battery powered motor, gearing and an on-off switch, automatically pivots the tongue until the tip is returned to raised position. At this point, the coin slides down the tongue and chute and falls into the chamber.

The mechanism is operated in such manner that the on off switch is opened and breaks the circuit to deenergize the motor when the tip is placed in raised position and is closed to complete the circuit when the tip is lowered to energize the motor and cause the tip to be raised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a detail cut away side view of a preferre form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of another portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of my invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 14, a portable coin operated bank takes the form of a hollow animal figure with a head 10 having an open mouth 12, a coin collection chamber 14 in the body, and a bottom disposed access door 16 communicating with the chamber for removal of coins 18 collected in the chamber. The door can contain a key operated lock or the like.

A tongue 20 is pivotally disposed at 20' in the mouth whereby its front end or tip 22 can be raised toward the roof of the mouth or lowered to the bottom thereof.

An inclined chute 24 disposed below the rear of the tongue extends inclinedly downward to the chamber.

When the tongue is in the raised position, a coin disposed thereon will slide downward therealong onto the chute and into the chamber because of battery action.

The tongue is electrically conductive and is connectcd via conductor 26 to one terminal of dry cells type battery 28. When the tongue tip is lowered, the rear 40 of the tongue engages contact 30 which is connected to one terminal of electric motor 32. When the tip is raised to its uppermost position, the connection between the rear of the tongue and contact 30 is broken. The other terminal of the motor is connected via conductor 34 to the other terminal of the battery. Suitable insulation is applied to prevent short circuits.

A pinion gear 36 on the shaft 36' of motor engages vertical rack 38 which is secured to the tongue.

When a coin is placed on the raised tip of the tongue and the tip is moved downward quickly by combined weight of the coin and finger pressure of the operator,

the rack is lowered, the rear of the tongue engages contact 30 forming a closed on off switch. The motor is energized, rotating the pinion gear, raising the rack and pivoting the tongue upwardl. When the tip approaches the uppermost position, the connection between the rear of the tongue and contact 30 is broken, forming an open on-off switch. The motor is deenergized, leaving the tip in raised position to complete the cycle.

The motor and gearing is constructed to enable the motor shaft to be rotated in reverse direction by manual action without injury even though the shaft can only rotate in forward direction when the motor is energized.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

l. A portable coin operated bank having the shape of an animal having a head with an open mouth through which coins are inserted, said bank comprising:

a coin collection chamber;

a chute connecting the mouth to said chamber;

an electrically conductive tongue pivotally secured at the rear thereof in the mouth above the chute, said tongue being pivoted with front end downward when a coin is placed thereon; and

means responsive to the downward pivot of the tongue to pivot the tongue upward to a raised position at which the front end of the tongue is moved adjacent the top of the mouth and the coin slides downward by gravity along the tongue and chute into the chamber, the means including an electrically powered motor and gearing, the motor being energized when the tongue is pivoted downward and being deenergized when the tongue is raised, the means further including an electrical switch, including one movable contact secured to said tongue, closed when the tongue pivots downward and opened when the tongue is raised.

2. The bank of claim 1 wherein the gearing includes a gear on the shaft of the motor and a pinion vertical rack cooperating with the pinion gear and secured to said tongue. 

1. A portable coin operated bank having the shape of an animal having a head with an open mouth through which coins are inserted, said bank comprising: a coin collection chamber; a chute connecting the mouth to said chamber; an electrically conductive tongue pivotally secured at the rear thereof in the mouth above the chute, said tongue being pivoted with front end downward when a coin is placed thereon; and means responsive to the downward pivot of the tongue to pivot the tongue upward to a raised position at which the front end of the tongue is moved adjacent the top of the mouth and the coin slides downward by gravity along the tongue and chute into the chamber, the means including an electrically powered motor and gearing, the motor being energized when the tongue is pivoted downward and being deenergized when the tongue is raised, the means further including an electrical switch, including one movable contact secured to said tongue, closed when the tongue pivots downward and opened when the tongue is raised.
 2. The bank of claim 1 wherein the gearing includes a gear on the shaft of the motor and a pinion vertical rack cooperating with the pinion gear and secured to said tongue. 